Australia defeats Sri Lanka in 2007 Cricket World Cup Final
{{date|April 28, 2007}}

[[w:Australia national cricket team|Australia]] have defeated [[w:Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] by 53 runs ([[w:Duckworth-Lewis method|DL method]]) in the Final of the [[w:2007 Cricket World Cup|World Cup]] at the [[w:Kensington Oval|Kensington Oval]], [[w:Bridgetown|Bridgetown]], [[w:Barbados|Barbados]], giving them their third successive title.

[[Australia]] progressed to the final without losing a single match - their smallest victory was still by a reasonable 83 runs against [[w:South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] in the group stages.

[[Sri Lanka]] lost twice on their way to the final, first against South Africa in their first game of the Super 8s, made famous due to [[w:Lasith Malinga|Lasith Malinga's]] 4 wickets in 4 balls, though Sri Lanka went on to lose by 1 wicket anyway. Their other loss came against today's opponents Australia, however they rested 2 of their main bowlers (Muttiah Muralitharan and Charminda Vaas), as well as strike bowler Lasith Malinga being out injured at the time. All 3 bowlers are expected to be in the squad today, giving Australia a different challenge today.

This is a repeat of the [[w:1996 Cricket World Cup|1996 World Cup Final]] which Sri Lanka won - however Australia have won both World Cups since, in 1999 and 2003, and have beaten Sri Lanka in every other World Cup match they have faced.

[[w:Adam Gilchrist|Gilchrist]] played an incredible innings of 149 - the highest for any batsman in a World Cup final - to give Australia an imposing total going in at to break. Hayden fell for 38, leaving him just 14 runs short of [[w:Sachin Tendulkar|Sachin Tendulkar's]] record of 673 in a single World Cup, set in 2003.

The match almost concluded in confusing circumstances: the game had run on late, having been reduced to 38 overs a side initially and later 36 overs for Sri Lanka, and bad light ended up stopping play with Sri Lanka's agreement, despite having 3 wickets left in hand and 18 balls left to bowl.

The Australians began to celebrate the win before the match officials informed them, incorrectly, that the remaining three overs still had to be bowled.  If light conditions were not good enough for play to resume then they would have to wait for the next day to complete the match.  Eventually the Sri Lankan captain sent his batsmen back out to play in near-complete darkness, the Australian captain agreeing to only allow spinners to bowl for the safety of the batsmen.

The final 3 overs were eventually bowled but nothing really changed: Malinga was stumped and sent on his way by Man of the Match Gilchrist but the balls slowly ran out and Australia stormed home to win the tournament.

==Match statistics==
'''Toss:''' Australia won, and elected to bat first.

{{Cricket match batting box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|20px]] [[w:Australian cricket team|Australia innings]]}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Adam Gilchrist|Adam Gilchrist]]|status=c Silva b Fernando|runs=149|balls=104|4s=13|6s=8|strike_rate=143.26}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Matthew Hayden|Matthew Hayden]]|status=c Jayawardene b Malinga|runs=38|balls=55|4s=3|6s=1|strike_rate=69.09}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Ricky Ponting|Ricky Ponting]]|status=run out (Jayawardene)|runs=37|balls=42|4s=1|6s=1|strike_rate=88.09}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Andrew Symonds|Andrew Symonds]]|status=not out|runs=23|balls=21|4s=2|6s=0|strike_rate=109.52}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Shane Watson|Shane Watson]]|status=b Malinga|runs=3|balls=3|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=100.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]]|status=not out|runs=8|balls=6|4s=1|6s=|strike_rate=133.33}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=Extras|status=(lb 4, w 16, nb 3)|runs=23|balls=|4s=|6s=|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player='''Total'''|status=('''4 Wickets'''; 38 overs)|runs='''281'''|balls=|4s=19|6s=10|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

'''Fall of wickets:''' 1-172 (Hayden, 22.5 ov), 2-224 (Gilchrist, 30.3 ov), 3-261 (Ponting, 35.4 ov), 4-266 (Watson, 36.2 ov)

'''Did not bat:''' [[w:Michael Hussey|Michael Hussey]], [[w:Brad Hogg|Brad Hogg]], [[w:Nathan Bracken|Nathan Bracken]], [[w:Shaun Tait|Shaun Tait]], [[w:Glenn McGrath|Glenn McGrath]]

{{Cricket match bowling box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|20px]] [[w:Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka bowling]]}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Chaminda Vaas|Chaminda Vaas]]|overs=8|maiden=0|runs=54|wickets=0|econ=6.75}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Lasith Malinga|Lasith Malinga]]|overs=8|maiden=1|runs=49|wickets=2|econ=6.12}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Dilhara Fernando|Dilhara Fernando]]|overs=8|maiden=0|runs=74|wickets=1|econ=9.25}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Muttiah Muralitharan|Muttiah Muralitharan]]|overs=7|maiden=0|runs=44|wickets=0|econ=6.28}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Tillakaratne Dilshan|Tillakaratne Dilshan]]|overs=2|maiden=0|runs=23|wickets=0|econ=11.50}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Sanath Jayasuriya|Sanath Jayasuriya]]|overs=5|maiden=0|runs=33|wickets=0|econ=6.60}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

{{Cricket match batting box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|20px]] [[w:Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka innings]] (Target: 269 runs from 36 overs)}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Upul Tharanga|Upul Tharanga]]|status=c Gilchrist b Bracken|runs=6|balls=8|4s=1|6s=0|strike_rate=75.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Sanath Jayasuriya|Sanath Jayasuriya]]|status=b Clarke|runs=63|balls=67|4s=9|6s=0|strike_rate=94.02}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Kumar Sangakkara|Kumar Sangakkara]]|status=c Ponting b Hogg|runs=54|balls=52|4s=6|6s=1|strike_rate=103.84}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Mahela Jayawardene|Mahela Jayawardene]]|status=lbw b Watson|runs=19|balls=19|4s=1|6s=0|strike_rate=100.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Chamara Silva|Chamara Silva]]|status=b Clarke|runs=21|balls=22|4s=1|6s=1|strike_rate=95.45}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Tillakaratne Dilshan|Tillakaratne Dilshan]]|status=run out (Clarke / McGrath)|runs=14|balls=13|4s=2|6s=0|strike_rate=107.69}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Russel Arnold|Russel Arnold]]|status=c Gilchrist b McGrath|runs=1|balls=2|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=50.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Chaminda Vaas|Chaminda Vaas]]|status=not out|runs=11|balls=21|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=52.38}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Lasith Malinga|Lasith Malinga]]|status=st Gilchrist b Symonds|runs=10|balls=6|4s=0|6s=1|strike_rate=166.66}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Dilhara Fernando|Dilhara Fernando]]|status=not out|runs=1|balls=6|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=16.66}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=Extras|status=(lb 1, w 14)|runs=15|balls=|4s=|6s=|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player='''Total'''|status=('''8 Wickets'''; 36 overs)|runs='''215'''|balls=|4s=20|6s=3|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

'''Fall of wickets:''' 1-7 (Tharanga, 2.1 ov), 2-123 (Sangakkara, 19.5 ov), 3-145 (Jayasuriya, 22.6 ov), 4-156 (Jayawardene, 25.5 ov), 5-188 (Dilshan, 29.6 ov), 6-190 (Silva, 30.1 ov), 7-194 (Arnold, 31.5 ov), 8-211 (Malinga, 33.6 ov)

'''Did not bat:''' [[w:Muttiah Muralitharan|Muttiah Muralitharan]]

{{Cricket match bowling box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|20px]] [[w:Australian cricket team|Australia bowling]]}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Nathan Bracken|Nathan Bracken]]|overs=6|maiden=1|runs=34|wickets=1|econ=5.66}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Shaun Tait|Shaun Tait]]|overs=6|maiden=0|runs=42|wickets=0|econ=7.00}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Glenn McGrath|Glenn McGrath]]|overs=7|maiden=0|runs=31|wickets=1|econ=4.42}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Shane Watson|Shane Watson]]|overs=7|maiden=0|runs=49|wickets=1|econ=7.00}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Brad Hogg|Brad Hogg]]|overs=3|maiden=0|runs=19|wickets=1|econ=6.33}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]]|overs=5|maiden=0|runs=33|wickets=2|econ=6.60}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Andrew Symonds|Andrew Symonds]]|overs=2|maiden=0|runs=6|wickets=1|econ=3.00}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

'''Australia:''' [[w:Matthew Hayden|M L Hayden]], [[w:Adam Gilchrist|A C Gilchrist]] (wkt), [[w:Ricky Ponting|R T Ponting]] (capt), [[w:Michael Clarke (cricketer)|M J Clarke]], [[w:Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]], [[w:Michael Hussey|M E K Hussey]], [[w:Shane Watson|S R Watson]], [[w:Brad Hogg|G B Hogg]], [[w:Nathan Bracken|N W Bracken]], [[w:Shaun Tait|S W Tait]], [[w:Glenn McGrath|G D McGrath]]<br>
'''Sri Lanka:''' [[w:Sanath Jayasuriya|S T Jayasuriya]], [[w:Upul Tharanga|W U Tharanga]], [[w:Kumar Sangakkara|K C Sangakkara]] (wkt),  [[w:Mahela Jayawardene|D P M D Jayawardene]] (capt), [[w:Chamara Silva|L P C Silva]], [[w:Tillakaratne Dilshan|T M Dilshan]], [[w:Russel Arnold|R P Arnold]], [[w:Chaminda Vaas|W P U J C Vaas]], [[w:Dilhara Fernando|C R D Fernando]], [[w:Lasith Malinga|S L Malinga]], [[w:Muttiah Muralitharan|M Muralitharan]]

'''Player of the match:''' [[w:Adam Gilchrist|A C Gilchrist]]
'''Player of the Tournament:''' [[w:Glenn McGrath|G D McGrath]]

Umpires: [[w:Aleem Dar|Aleem Dar]] (Pakistan) and [[w:Steve Bucknor|S A Bucknor]] (West Indies)<br>
TV umpire: [[w:Rudi Koertzen|R E Koertzen]] (South Africa)<br>
Match referee: [[w:Jeff Crowe|J J Crowe]] (New Zealand)<br>
Reserve umpire: [[w:Billy Bowden|B F Bowden]] (New Zealand)<br>

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/247507.html|title=Final: Australia v Sri Lanka at Bridgetown, Apr 28, 2007|author=|pub=Cricinfo|date=April 28, 2007}}
{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:West Indies]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Cricket]]
[[Category:2007 Cricket World Cup]]
[[pl:Finał Mistrzostw Świata w Krykiecie 2007]]
Australia have defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs (DL method) in the Final of the World Cup at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, giving them their third successive title.

Australia progressed to the final without losing a single match - their smallest victory was still by a reasonable 83 runs against South Africa in the group stages.

Sri Lanka lost twice on their way to the final, first against South Africa in their first game of the Super 8s, made famous due to Lasith Malinga's 4 wickets in 4 balls, though Sri Lanka went on to lose by 1 wicket anyway. Their other loss came against today's opponents Australia, however they rested 2 of their main bowlers (Muttiah Muralitharan and Charminda Vaas), as well as strike bowler Lasith Malinga being out injured at the time. All 3 bowlers are expected to be in the squad today, giving Australia a different challenge today.

This is a repeat of the 1996 World Cup Final which Sri Lanka won - however Australia have won both World Cups since, in 1999 and 2003, and have beaten Sri Lanka in every other World Cup match they have faced.

Gilchrist played an incredible innings of 149 - the highest for any batsman in a World Cup final - to give Australia an imposing total going in at to break. Hayden fell for 38, leaving him just 14 runs short of Sachin Tendulkar's record of 673 in a single World Cup, set in 2003.

The match almost concluded in confusing circumstances: the game had run on late, having been reduced to 38 overs a side initially and later 36 overs for Sri Lanka, and bad light ended up stopping play with Sri Lanka's agreement, despite having 3 wickets left in hand and 18 balls left to bowl.

The Australians began to celebrate the win before the match officials informed them, incorrectly, that the remaining three overs still had to be bowled.  If light conditions were not good enough for play to resume then they would have to wait for the next day to complete the match.  Eventually the Sri Lankan captain sent his batsmen back out to play in near-complete darkness, the Australian captain agreeing to only allow spinners to bowl for the safety of the batsmen.

The final 3 overs were eventually bowled but nothing really changed: Malinga was stumped and sent on his way by Man of the Match Gilchrist but the balls slowly ran out and Australia stormed home to win the tournament.


'Fall of wickets:' 1-172 (Hayden, 22.5 ov), 2-224 (Gilchrist, 30.3 ov), 3-261 (Ponting, 35.4 ov), 4-266 (Watson, 36.2 ov)

'Did not bat:' Michael Hussey, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath

'Fall of wickets:' 1-7 (Tharanga, 2.1 ov), 2-123 (Sangakkara, 19.5 ov), 3-145 (Jayasuriya, 22.6 ov), 4-156 (Jayawardene, 25.5 ov), 5-188 (Dilshan, 29.6 ov), 6-190 (Silva, 30.1 ov), 7-194 (Arnold, 31.5 ov), 8-211 (Malinga, 33.6 ov)

'Did not bat:' Muttiah Muralitharan

'Australia:' M L Hayden, A C Gilchrist (wkt), R T Ponting (capt), M J Clarke, A Symonds, M E K Hussey, S R Watson, G B Hogg, N W Bracken, S W Tait, G D McGrath
'Sri Lanka:' S T Jayasuriya, W U Tharanga, K C Sangakkara (wkt),  D P M D Jayawardene (capt), L P C Silva, T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, W P U J C Vaas, C R D Fernando, S L Malinga, M Muralitharan

'Player of the match:' A C Gilchrist
'Player of the Tournament:' G D McGrath

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and S A Bucknor (West Indies)
TV umpire: R E Koertzen (South Africa)
Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)
Reserve umpire: B F Bowden (New Zealand)
West Indies Australia Sri Lanka Cricket 2007 Cricket World Cup